Method and means for sealing seams

ABSTRACT

928,538. Stitched seams; sewing-machines. D. E. STEM. Sept. 23, 1960, No. 32813/60. Class 112. In a stitched seam joining two overlapped pieces of material 111, 112 (Fig. 6) by at least two parallel lines of stitching 118, cement 117 is injected into the space between the pieces of material while the stitching progresses to render the seam water-tight. As shown, the seam is produced on a sewing-machine having a needle bar 42 mounted in a head 36 and carrying a pair of needles 39. A presser bar 34 carries a presser foot 28 which is formed with needlepassing holes 43 and co-operates with a feed dog 26 formed with needle-passing slots 44. The feed dog and presser foot are also formed with aligned, longitudinal grooves 37 and 38, respectively to accommodate a tube 86 which ends rearwardly thereof. Rearwardly of tube 86 a feed roller 61 co-operates with a presser roller 77. Roller 61 is driven intermittently via a free wheel gear 64 by a crank 66 and connecting-rod 67 from an eccentric 71, the latter being driven by a belt 76 from a motor 74. A work guide, provided in advance of the presser foot, comprises a lower plate 47 fixed adjustably by screws 50 to the work-supporting table 22, and an upper plate 51 pivoted at 53 to plate 47. A flange 54 depending from plate 47 to engage the edge of plate 47 prevents plate 51 from crossing the path of the needles. Plate 51 is formed with a channel portion 56 to guide the edge of the lower piece 112 of material, a step 57 to support the tube 86, and a flange 58 to guide the edge of the upper piece 111 of material. Tube 86 is connected to a tube 87 which carries a pin 88 received in a socket 91 formed on a plate 89 fixed adjustably by screws 93 to table 22. Tube 87 is connected via a tube 97, a stop-valve 99 and a tube 110 to the outlet of a gear pump 103 driven by belt 76. The inlet of pump 103 is connected by a tube 102 to a cement reservoir 101. A relief valve 108 is connected between tubes 102 and 110. Liquid cement issues from tube 86 into the space between the seams 118, and is evenly spread therein when the seams pass between the rollers 61 and 77.

Nov. 29, 1960 D. J. LENNEY 2,962,082

METHOD AND MEANS FOR SEALING SEAMS y INVENTOR. 00A/AT J LENA/EYyawnbwa/M ATTORNE Nov. 29, 1960 D. J. LENNEY 2,962,082

METHOD AND MEANS FOR SEALING SEAMS Filed Oct. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet '2Fjgg/M, //z 4 INVEN TOR.

L70/VA7 J. LENA/EY MMM Arrofi/Eys `United States Patent() METHUD ANDMEANS FOR SEALING SEAMS Donat J. Lenney, 1966 Illinois Ave., Santa Rosa,Caiif.

Filed Oct. 10, 1955, Ser. No. 539,609

11 Claims. (Cl. 154-42) This invention relates to a new and improvedapparatus and method for sewing seams. Reference is made to myco-pending application Serial No. 466,031 ed November l, 1954 nowabandoned, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a means and methodof producing a double-stitched seam wherein a cement is injected intothe seam interiorly thereof while sewing adjacent edges of sheetmaterial together.

A principal object of the present invention is to improve the holdingcharacteristics, waterproof and other desirable characteristics forjoining sheet material such as canvas or the like and to provide a newmethod of joining sheet material and sealing the seams at the time ofjoinder. Heretofore when such materials have been sewed together, therehas been a tendency for water to leak through the seam and particularlythrough the holes formed by needles. The present invention provides awaterproof sealing medium or cement which is injected into the seamafter it is formed and seals the two layers of material together at theseam and likewise iills the needle holes and surrounds the thread.

Another object of the invention is to reduce thread wear from frictionby surrounding the same with cement.

A further object of the invention is the elimination of the separateoperation of applying sealer before or after formation of the seam as isthe case with prior art practice. Here the application of sealer orcement is simultaneous, or practically so, with the seam formation andinteriorly thereof. Additionally, by applying the sealer from the insideof the seam, while the seam is being formed, better results are obtainedboth as to the end product and from the standpoint of production`economy and eiciency.

A further object of the invention is to apply sealing material underpressure into the Seam so that all the needle holes are completelysealed interiorly of the seam, thereby producing a more waterproof andattractive product.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means forapplying the sealing material between two pieces of material as they arebeing sewn together.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from readingthe following speeication and referring to the accompanying drawings inwhich similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts ineach ofthe several views.

In the drawings: f

Fig. l is a schematic side elevation partly broken away in section andwith certain parts removed showing a sewing machine in which the presentinvention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a schematic horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away and removed;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain portions of theinvention;

ICC

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a presser foot modified in accordancewith this invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view (enlarged relative to Fig. 4) of a feedfoot modified in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary prespective view showing a portion ofa seam formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through certain portions of thesewing machine and material being sewn taken substantially along theline 7 7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 taken substantially along the line8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 taken substantially along the line9-9 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig. 7 taken substantially along the line10--10 of Fig. 2.

The present invention may be incorporated in a standard commercialsewing machine, modified as hereinafter set forth, to accommodate thefeatures of the present invention. Inasmuch as such commercial sewingmachines are extremely complicated mechanisms, the necessary parts withwhich the present invention is associated are shown and simplified. Manyof the additional parts of the sewing machine, but whereby the partsshown are supported, driven, and controlled, are

eliminated in order to emphasize the principal features of the presentinvention.

Accordingly there is shown herein a sewing machine frame 21 having asubstantially horizontal table 22. Table 22 is formed with at least twoapertures 23 and 24 for projection therethrough of the feed foot 26 andthe lower take-off roll 61, respectively. Feed foot 26 is formed withbuttress-type serrations 27 in a manner well understood in this art. Themeans whereby the feed foot is actuated is conventional and forms nopart of the present invention and accordingly has been omitted from thedrawings and the present description. Immediately above the feed foot 26is presser foot 28, which comprises a base 29 horizontally disposedimmediately above the feed foot 26, the base being bent upwardly at anobtuse angle to form a front 31 and rear 32. On top of the base 29 is aboss 33 which receives vertical stem 34 which projects upwardly into thesewing machine head 36. The interior construction of the head 36 isconventional and forms no part of the present invention. Nevertheless,it may be stated that means is provided for raising and lowering thestern 34 to facilitate installing and removing the pieces of material tobe sewn together. When the stem 34 is depressed, spring pressure isapplied downwardly to cause firm engagement of the lower layer of clothwith the feed foot 26 so that it may be moved rearwardly in anintermittent motion as well understood in this art.

Formed in the top surface of the feed foot 26 is a groove 37 and formedin the lower surface of the presser foot 28 is a corresponding groove 38immediately above the groove 37. The cross-sectional size and shape ofthe grooves 37 and 38 is sufiicient to accommodate a cylindrical tube 86hereinafter described. v

The present machine employs at least two needles`39 which are generallyvertically disposed and have their upper ends received in needleretainers 41 which are attached to needle actuating stem 42 whichextends upwardly into the head 36 and is actuated. to reciprocate theneedles as understood in the art.

To provide passage for the needles 39, twoholes 43 are formed in presserfoot 28 and similarly two elongated slots 44 are formed in the feed foot26 so that the feed foot may move while the needles are depressed.

Positioned in advance of the feet 26, and 28 and to one side thereof isguide mounting plates-46, which iS formed with a transverse groove 47 inits upper surface in which are formed a pair of transverse slots 48.Screws 50 extend through the slots 48, the heads thereof being receivedin the groove 47 so that they do not project above the surface of theplate 46. The location of the guide mounting plate 46 may thus belaterally adjusted.

The guide 51 which is mounted on plate 46 is formed with a hole 52 inone of its corners in alignment with tapped hole 49 in plate 46. Screw53 extends through the hole 52 and is received in tapped hole 49. Onecorner 54 of the guide 51 is downwardly turned and the downwardly turnedportion engages an edge of the plate 46. Accordingly, the guide 51 maybe turned out of position when it is necessary to adjust the needles 39or for other purposes, the screw 53 serving as a pivot for the turningmovement.

The downturned corner 54 prevents the guide 51 from being turned towardthe needles and hence prevents darnage to the needles. Guide 51 extendshorizontally inwardly over the guide mounting plate 46 and then isformed with a reverse bend 56, the bend serving to receive one edge ofthe lower piece of material being sewn. The upper surface of the reversebend portion 56 iS formed with a step 57 and the step 57 terminates inan upturned edge 58 which forms a guide for an edge of the other pieceof material being sewn. The purpose of the step 57 is to provide roomfor the tube 86, as hereinafter described.

In accordance with conventional sewing machine construction andpractice, two pieces of material, usually sheet material such as canvasor other fabric or synthetic substance, are properly located inoverlapped relationship by means of the guide 51 and are then passedthrough the space between the feed foot 26 and presser foot 28. The feedfoot 26 advances the material in proper timed relation while the needles39 reciprocate and sew the seam. After the seam has been sewn, thematerial passes between lower takeoff roll 61 and upper takeoff roll 77which are located rearwardly of the presser foot 28 and feed foot 26.Lower takeoff roll 61 is located below the table 22 and its periphery isformed with serrations 62. Shaft 63 provides a mounting for the roll 61and is journaled in the frame 21 by means not illustrated. Aconventional overriding clutch 64 on shaft 63 is actuated by arm 66which is atached to connecting rod 67 by pivot joint 68. The oppositeend of connecting rod 67 carries eccentric strap 69 which embraceseccentric 71 on shaft 72. Shaft 72 carries a pulley 73 which is drivenfrom reduction motor 74 by means of belt 76. In accordance withconventional practice, the lower takeoff roll 61 is driven in timedrelation to the shaft 72 which is connected to the means which drivesthe feed foot 26 and needles 39. By reason of the overriding clutch 64the material is advanced only in such manner as not to damagethematerial or the needles as is conventional in sewing machines.

The upper takeo roll 77 is ribbed and mounted by means of stub shaft 78between the bifurcations of bracket 79 which is attached to the lowerend of stern S1 receivedl in takeoff head 82. The details of theconstmction of head 82 are not illustrated or described, but as wellunderstood in this art, means is provided for raising and.l loweringupper takeoff roll 77 when the material must be installed and removed.Sufficient resilient pressure is applied to the upper takeoi roll 77 togrip the material sufliciently firmly to cause the same to advance aslower roll 61 is turned.

The present invention employs a tube 86 which is of suiicient length toextend from a position in advance of the feed foot 26 and presser foot28 to a position rearwardly thereof. The forward end of the tube 86 isattached to a generally Y-shaped connection, the opposite branch ofwhich is provided with a pin 88 which is detachably received in tubeguide 89. Tube guide 89 comprises a cylindrical socket 91 which engagesfrictionally the pin 88. It is further formed with a pair oftransversely extending elongated slots 92 through which extend screws 93which are tapped into the table 22. By reason of the slots 92, thelateral position of the guide 39 and hence of the tube 86 may beadjusted. Feet 94 on the Y-shaped fitting 87 engage the top surface ofthe table 22 and prevent dislocation of the tube 86. An enlargedshoulder 95 at the base of pin 88 forms an abutment limiting inwardmovement of the tube 86.

Bend 96 is formed on the forward end of the Y-shaped fitting S6 and isconnected to a flexible tube 97 so that when the pin 88 is disengagedfrom the socket 91, the tube S6 may be moved out of position. Aconventional joint 9S is employed to connect the bent tube 96 to thellexible tube 97. The oposite end of flexible tube 97 is connected to ashut-off valve 99 which may be used to adjust the rate of uid sealer,adhesive or cement through the tube 86. A reservoir 101 for a sealing oradhesive compound discharges into pipe 102 which is connected to theintake of gear pump 103. The body 104 of pump 103 encloses gears 106 aswell understood in the pump art. Pulley 107 which is driven by belt 76turns the pump 103. A pressure relief valve 108 is employed immediatelybehind the pump 103 to divert uid through by-pass line 109 when thevalve 99 is closed or not suiciently open to permit full discharge ofthe pump 103. Pipe 110 delivers the uid from the pump 103 to theregulating valve 99.

The present invention may be employed, as illustrated in Fig. 7 andfollowing figures, to form a seam to join sheets of overlapping sheetmaterial designated as a top layer of cloth 111 and bottom layer 112.The lefthand edge of bottom piece 112 is disposed in the reverse bend56.0fthe guide 51. The righthand edge of the upper piece 111 ispositioned against the upturned edge 58. Step 57 holds the two layersapart and provides room for the tube 86 which extends from the tubeguide 89 rearwardly between the two layers of cloth. The layers ofmaterial are positioned between the feed foot 26 and the presser foot 29and also between the rolls 61 and 77. As the feed foot 26 advances thecloth, the needles 39 form seams of thread 114 in two parallel lines.Theaction of the tube 86 and the grooves 37 and 38 in the feet 26 and28, respectively, causes a pucker 113 to form at the seam between thethreads 114 and this pucker 113 is lled with cement 116 which ows out ofthe end of the tube 86 after the seam has been formed and after thematerial has been released from gripping action be tween the feet 26 and28. After the discharge of the cement 116, the material passes betweenthe takeoff rolls 61A and 77 whichflatten the pucker 113 and cause thecement to flow into the holes for the thread 114 forming a cement seal118 around the thread 114 and adhesively `secure pieces 111 and 112 asshown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 6, the cement 116 between the layers of material formsa secure sewed and sealed sheet joinder and the seal 118 around thethread 114 seals the holes formed by the needle and also protects thethread 114 against friction wear.

The pump 103 is driven in synchronism with the sewing machine and thecement is continuously discharged into the seam after it has been sewnand before the pucker 113 has been flattened.

The expressions double seam or double stitched seam or like expressionas used herein are intended to mean a plurality of rows of stitchessubstantially parallel to form material sheets or the like, and betweenwhich rows of stitching the cement may be injected according to thisinvention.

The essence of this invention resides in the simplicity ofsheettmaterial joinder by means of suitable cement and stitching. Thecement is injected into the seam, interiorly, at the time of seamformation. The uid cement is trapped in the continuously forming seamand subsequently subjected to pressure, which distributes the Huidmaterial most eicaciously around and about the needle holes, thread and,of course, the overlapping portions of the sheets to be joined. A moresecure joinder is thus obtained in a most ecient fashion withoutexterior defacement.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is understood that certain changes and modications maybe practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a seam comprising overlapping two pieces ofmaterial, stitching thread through the overlap in at least two lines ofsewing, injecting cement generally longitudinally between the two linesand pieces and interiorly of the seam between said lines after saidlines have been sewn, and squeezing the overlap together to cement theoverlap and to force said cement into the stitches formed by saidstitching.

2. In a method of forming a seam through overlapping pieces of material,stitching thread through the overlap in at least two substantiallyparallel lines of sewing, and injecting cement between the stitchedlines interiorly between said overlapping pieces after the two lineshave been sewn so as to introduce cement interiorly of said formed seamand around the thread in the stitches.

3. In a method of forming a seam through overlapping pieces of material,guiding overlapping portions of said pieces of material in generallyparallel spaced relation and in parallel with a cement feed line betweensaid spaced overlapping portions of said pieces of material, stitchingthread through the overlap in at least two substantial parallel lines ofsewing straddling said cement feed line, and injecting cement from saidfeed line between the stitched lines interiorly in said overlap aftersaid stitching so as to introduce cement around the thread in thestitches.

4. The invention claimed in claim 3 and squeezing the overlap togetherafter said cement feeding for spreading said cement.

5. ln an apparatus for forming a cemented seam through superimposedpieces of material, the combination with a presser foot and a feed footof a sewing machine, means for actuating said feet to advancesuperimposed pieces of material to be sewn together; of a cement feedtube, means to locate said tube between and beyond said presser foot andfeed foot whereby said tube is positioned along and between saidsuperimposed pieces of material, a pair of needles spaced transverselywith respect to said feet and being reciprocable to and through saidfeet so as to straddle said cement feed tube and being actuated to formgenerally parallel rows of stitches through said superimposed pieces ofmaterial, the outlet of said cement feed tube being beyond said needlesand between said rows of stitches, and means to feed cement through saidtube.

6. The apparatus for injecting material into a seam delined in claim 5and at least one of said feet having groove therein to accommodate saidtube between the superimposed portions of said material.

7. The apparatus for injecting material into a seam defined in claim 5and means to guide said pieces of material in superimposed spacedrelation respectively above and below said tube to said feet.

8. ln a sewing machine the combination with a presser foot, a feed footbeneath said presser foot, means for actuating said feed foot to advancematerial to be sewn,

a pair of needles spaced transversely with respect to said feet andbeing reciprocable to and through said feet, means for actuating saidneedles in timed relation to actuation of said feed feet, of theimprovements comprising a guide positioned in advance of said feet toguide two pieces of material in spaced superimposed relation, and acement feed tube extending from a position in advance of said guide,through said guide, between said presser foot and feed foot and betweensaid superimposed pieces of material so as to be straddled by saidneedles and to a position beyond said needles, and means for supplyingcement under pressure to said tube.

9. In a sewing machine the combination with a presser foot, a feed footbeneath said presser foot, means for actuating said feed foot to advancematerial to be sewn, a pair of needles spaced transversely with respectto said feet and being reciprocable to and through said feet, means foractuating said needles in timed relation to actuation of said feed foot,of the improvements comprising a pair of material take-off rolls behindsaid feet, means for driving at least one of said rolls in timedrelation to actuation of said feed foot, a cement feed tube extendingfrom a position in advance of said needles, between said feet so as tobe straddled by said needles, and terminating beyond said needles, andmeans for supplying cement under pressure to said tube.

10. In a sewing machine the combination with a presser foot, a feed footbeneath said presser foot, means for actuating said feed foot to advancematerial to be sewn, a pair of needles spaced transversely with respectto said feet and being reciprocable to and through said feet, means foractuating said needles in timed relation to actuation of said feed foot,of the improvements comprising a cement feed tube extending from aposition in advance of said needles, between said presser foot and feedfoot so as to be straddled by said needles, to a position beyond saidneedles, a tube guide, a tube locating pin connected to said tube, saidtube guide being formed to detachably receive said pin to hold said tubein position, and means for supplying cement under pressure to said tube.

11. In a sewing machine the combination with a presser foot, a feed footbeneath said presser foot, means for actuating said feed foot to advancematerial to be sewn, a pair of needles spaced transversely with respectto said feet and being reciprocable to and through said feet, means foractuating said needles in timed relation to actuation of said feed foot,of the improvements comprising a cement feed tube extending from aposition in advance of said needles, between said presser foot and feedfoot so as to be straddled by said needles, to a position beyond saidneedles, a tube guide located in advance of and to one side of saidfeet, a tube locating pin connected to said tube, said tube guide beingformed to detachably receive said pin to hold said tube in position, andmeans for supplying cement under pressure to said tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,278,099 Brackett Sept. 10, 1918 1,978,620 Brewster Oct. 30, 19342,217,331 Card Oct. 8, 1940 2,343,975 Hoseld Mar. 14, 1944 2,353,960King July 18, 1944 2,430,087 Stritter Nov. 4, 1947 2,557,668 LincolnJune 19, 1951

